Vehicle.



110.855.0641 PATENTED MAY28,1907.'-

c. H. KRAMER.

VEHICLE.

APPLIOATIOR FILED MAR. 10, 1906.

wrrnzsszs: INVENT R ATTORNEY CHARLES H. KRAMER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed March 10,1906. Serial No. 305.202.

To aZZ mil/0772 it may concern:

Be it known. that I, CHARLES H. KRAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and .use' the same, reference being had to the acdrawing forming a part of this specification in which my idea is illustrated by several views. Figure 1 being a side elevation of my device as applied to the hounds, springs, and

bed of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is an end view of my device as attached to one of the rear springs. Fig. 4 isv a front view of the rocker bearing, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 'VVofFig4.

Throughout the drawing the numeral 1 designates the bed of the vehicle.

Attached in a rigid manner to the under side of the hounds 2-2, near the fifth wheel 3, is a securing plate 4 forming the upper section of the rocker bearing, said plate having projecting ears 44 with apertures formed therein to receive the bolts 4 -4 A similar securing plate is also attached to a cross strip 3 in the rear of the vehicle. Formed on this securing plate 4, is a projection or tongue 5 having a central longitudinal opening therein. This tongue 5 is seated in a bearing 6, formed in the lower or hinged portion 7, which seats on the spring. A bolt 12, passes through the two members 5 and 7, thus forming a hinge. Formed on all four sides of the member 7 are grooved projections 88, for receiving the strips 99, which serve to unite the member 7 firmly to the spring. The springs are connected in the usual manner to the front and rear axles.

By means of my device, as herein described in detail, it will be possible to lessen the strain on the springs when the vehicle is being loaded by amore equal distribution of the weight throughout the entire vehicle. When a weight is lifted into the rear part of the vehicle, for instance, the entire bed or body portion will oscillate on the rocker bearings and thus cause a more equal distribution of pressure throughout the springs. The front springs will thus take up its share of the stress that would ordinarily be confined to the rear springs. It will also be seen that the rocker bearings are so arranged that the lied of the vehicle will only be permitted. to oscillate longitudinally. N o matter in what part of the bed of the vehicle the weight is placed the stress will be distributed throughout the entire bed.

Another, and very important, feature of my device is in the fact that in the present method the ends of the springs are secured to the oscillating portion of the rocker bearings. In this manner I am able to avoid twisting of the springs or working loose of securing bolts owing to the fact that when a weight is placed in the vehicle the strain does not come directly on. the springs and their securing means, but is taken up by the rocker bearings.

I do not wish -to confine myself to the means shown for fastening the springs to the oscillating member 7, as other means may be substituted witho ut departing from my original idea. Other minor changes may also be made in the detail form of construction to suit existing conditions.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the character described the combination, with the body portion and springs of a vehicle, of securing plates rigidly fixed to the under side of the body portion and hounds, a hinged member operatively connected with each securing plate; a plurality of grooved. projections formed on the hinged member and adapted to receive securing means for uniting said hinged member with the spring.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. KRAMER.

Witnesses:

J. P. APPLEMAN, A. HAYMAKER. 

